Samurai File; Horio Yoshiharu(1542 – July 26, 1611)

Samurai File; Horio Yoshiharu(1542 – July 26, 1611)

Samurai File; Horio Yoshiharu (1542 – July 26, 1611)

Born in Owari (Aichi Prefecture) in 1542, Horio Yoshiharu, also known as Mosuke, was one ofToyotomi Hideyoshi’s most trusted vassals. Horio entered Hideyoshi’s employ at an early age, having been brought before Hideyoshi, who had heard of the boy’s exploits fighting a wild boar unarmed!

Despite his fearless demeanor, he was known as Hotoke no Mosuke, after the enlightened god, Hotoke, because of his calm attitude, even under pressure.

Horio served Hideyoshi well during the attack on Inabayama (Gifu) Castle, the siege of Bitchu Takamatsu Castle, Yamazaki, Shizugatake and the Siege of Odawara. His bravery in fielding a flank attack by Saito Toshikazu during the battle of Shizugatake won him praise, and he was later appointed Churyu (administrator) in Hideyoshi’s government.

In 1600, Horio joined the Eastern forces at Sekigahara under Tokugawa Ieyasu. Towards the end of the summer of 1600, while the nation was dissolving into East and Western camps, Horio, along with the Lord of Kariya Castle, Mizuno Tadashige and Kaganoi Shigemochi attended a drinking party at Chiryu, in Mikawa Province (Aichi Prefecture), when a drunken and enraged Kaganoi killed Mizuno, and was promptly cut down by Horio in return. Kagenoi was close friends with Ishida Mitsunari, and so his death served to lessen Mitsunari’s support. It also made it easier for Ieyasu to advance through the late Kaganoi’s former lands. Horio was injured by Kaganoi in the fight, and was unable to appear at the Battle of Sekigahara.

He was awarded the position of daimyo of Matsue (Shimane Prefecture) passing the position to his 9 year old grandson in 1604, and retaining power until his death in 1611.